PUBLIC NOTICE

On Thursday, August 25, 2016, the Little Hoover Commission will conduct a public hearing on special districts, the 4,700 local and regional government entities that provide water, sewer and other services, run parks and hospitals and collect taxes and fees. The hearing will begin at 9:30 a.m. 1020 N Street, Room 100, in Sacramento.

The November hearing is the Commission’s first look at special districts since its 2000 report, Special Districts: Relics of the Past or Resources for the Future? At this hearing, the Commission will largely focus on the nearly 3,000 independent special districts run by elected or appointed boards with assistance of professional staffs. The Commission will hear from six witnesses to set the stage for its exploration of state policy toward special districts. Witnesses will discuss the basics of special district organization, address criticisms of special districts and offer assessments of the Commission’s 2000 report. The Commission also will hear from witnesses on what has and has not changed since 2000, explore new challenges and opportunities facing special districts and consider what new areas can be investigated by this study.

At the hearing the Commission will first hear from the advocacy and public affairs director for the California Special Districts Association to gain an overall view of special districts in the state. The second panel includes representatives from the Association of California Healthcare Districts and the North Tahoe Fire Protection District, to discuss how changing times are affecting special districts. The third panel features the executive director of the California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions (CALAFCO), to address the role of LAFCOs in governing special districts. The final panel includes the principal at CaliforniaCityFinance.com and the president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. They will discuss the role of property taxes and fees in funding special districts.

There will be an opportunity for public comment at the end of the hearing. The Commission also encourages written comments. A formal agenda and other documents related to this study can be viewed and downloaded from the Commission’s website at www.lhc.ca.gov.

Immediately following the hearing, the Commission will hold a business meeting in in the lower level conference room at 925 L Street in Sacramento. An additional teleconference location accessible to the public for the business meeting will be at 15 Henry Street, Southampton, NY 11968.